In Tiverton and Fall River, more agencies aim to carry overdose antidote Narcan

Friday

Feb 28, 2014 at 5:27 PMFeb 28, 2014 at 5:34 PM

Police in both communities say carrying drug should be a priority

Kevin P. O'Connor Herald News Staff Reporter @HNKPO

TIVERTON — It is a drug that can pull a person from death’s door, can bring the near dead back to life.

But there is a price to pay for that miracle. Narcan, the drug that can stop a heroin overdose, needs to be used with caution, emergency medical providers say.

“It is a lifesaver, there is no question about that,” said Tiverton Fire Chief Robert Lloyd. Tiverton paramedics and EMTs carry the drug.

“It is a narcotic antagonist,” Lloyd explained. “If you have someone on an overdose, the Narcan will stop it. It also takes their high away. If you give them too much, they come to fighting.”

Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts are seeing spikes in the number of heroin overdoses. Both Massachusetts and Rhode Island are reporting record numbers for 2014. Overdoses come in waves, and this area has seen one big wave already this year, according to Beth Faunce, deputy director of Emergency Medical Services with the Fall River Fire Department.

“We saw more right after the holiday,” she said. “It didn’t seem to be related to the holiday. It seemed to be whatever they were taking. We’ve carried Narcan for the last 10 years. It is the only medication we can use to reverse a heroin overdose.”

The plans are for more emergency personnel to be equipped with the drug. Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan and Police Chief Daniel Racine said Fall River officers will be trained and equipped with the drug.

In Tiverton, during a week with two large heroin arrests, it is clear Tiverton police need to carry Narcan, too, according to Tiverton police Capt. Patrick Jones.

Justin Aguiar, 22, of 182 June St., Fall River, was arrested on Main Road on Feb. 21 with 70 bags of what police allege was heroin.

Deana Furtado, 40, 287 State St., was arrested at home on Tuesday. Police allege they seized 2,560 bags of heroin, 50 Oxycontin pills and more than $5,000 in cash.

“Heroin is here in town,” Jones said. “We have to be ready to deal with it.”

Faunce said the emergency medical services are working with Seven Hills Behavioral Center to set up a training program for the Fall River police. Tiverton police, Jones said, will watch Fall River as they set up their training.

Part of the training will be to educate police officers on what Narcan can and will do, Faunce said.

“If you give someone too much too fast, you send them into immediate withdrawal,” she said. “They can be aggressive when they come to.”

During a heroin overdose, the drug shuts down brain function, including the part of the brain that tells the body to breathe.

“When they take the narcotic to an overdose, they go into respiratory arrest,” Lloyd said. “We give them enough Narcan to get them breathing. We maintain them and keep them under control.

“If someone gets up and runs on us, we have to chase them and try to find them before the drug wears off. They can go back into overdose.”

Lloyd said his department is ready to share its experience with the police and help with their training.

“Unfortunately, we see this all the time. Heroin is cheap,” Lloyd said. “We all have to be ready for this.”

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